Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana

Context:

The MInistry of Social Justice and Empowerment will distribute 4,800 daily living aids and assistive devices among 895 senior citizen beneficiaries under Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana (RVY).

Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana:

• Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana has been started in the year 2017
• Scheme started to benefit the elderly people of the country. 
• Under this scheme, life aids will be provided by the central government to the aged citizens of the country. 
• Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana (RVY) is a central sector scheme of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.
• The expenditure for implementation of Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana (RVY) will be met from the “Senior Citizens’ Welfare Fund”.
• It will be implemented through the sole implementing agency – Artificial Limbs Manufacturing Corporation (ALIMCO), a PSU under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.
• The main criteria for the senior citizens to get full benefits of Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana (RVY) scheme is that they must belong to the BPL family and should hold valid BPL card issued by the concerned authority.
• Under this scheme, necessary equipments for the livelihood of senior citizens will be distributed through camps. 
• These accessories shall be of high quality and shall be manufactured as per the norms prescribed by the Bureau of India Standards. 

Districts covered under Rashtriya Vyoshree Scheme

• A total of 325 districts have been selected for the implementation of Rashtriya Vyoshi Yojana.
• Evaluation camps for identification of beneficiaries have been completed in 135 districts.
• So far 77 distribution camps have been organized in which 70939 senior citizens belonging to BPL category have been benefitted.

Salient Features of Rashtriya Vyoshi Yojana

• The equipments will be distributed free of cost to all the beneficiaries.
• If a person has more than one disability, then more than one device will be provided to the beneficiary.
• Aids and Assisted Living Equipments will be provided free maintenance for 1 year by the Artificial Limbs Manufacturing Corporation.
• The beneficiaries in each of the districts will be identified by the State Government/UT Administration through a committee headed by the Deputy Commissioner, District Collector.
• As far as possible, 30% of the beneficiaries in each district will be women.
• The equipment will be distributed through the camp.

Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana (RVY)- Device Supported

• Under the Rashtriya Vayoshri Scheme, the following Aids and Assisted-Living Devices will be provided to eligible elderly beneficiary senior citizens, depending upon their physical impairment.

• Walking sticks
• Elbow crutches
• Walkers / Crutches
• Tripods / Quadpods
• Hearing Aids
• Wheelchair
• Artificial Dentures
• Spectacles

Disability in India-Fast Facts:

• As per Census 2011, in India, out of the total population of 121 crore, about 2.68 Cr persons are ‘Disabled’ (2.21% of the total population)
• Out of 2.68 crore, 1.5 crore are males and 1.18 crore are females
• Majority (69%) of the disabled population resided in rural areas

Constitutional Framework:

• Article 41 of the Directive Principles of State Policy (DPSP) states that State shall make effective provision for securing right to work, to education and to public assistance in cases of unemployment, old age, sickness and disablement, within the limits of its economic capacity and development.

The subject of ‘relief of the disabled and unemployable’ is specified in state list of the Seventh Schedule of the constitution.

Legal Framework : 

Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016

Addition in types of disability:

• The types of disabilities increased from 7 (in 1995 Act) to 21.
• Further, the Central Government has been empowered to add more types of disabilities.

 Education:

• Every child with benchmark disability to get free education from 6 to 18 years of the age. 

Reservation:

• Reservation to the differently-abled person in the education and government jobs has been increased from 3% to 4%.

Infrastructure:

• An important distinguishing feature of the 2016 Act is that it provides for time limits within which existing infrastructure and premises should be made disabled friendly.
• The obligations laid down in the Act are mandatory for both government and private establishments.

Fund:

• Creation of National and State Fund will be created to provide financial support to the persons with disabilities.
• The existing National Fund for Persons with Disabilities and the Trust Fund for Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities will be subsumed with the National Fund.

Grant of guardianship:

• The Bill provides for grant of guardianship by District Court, under which there will be joint decision, making between the guardian and the persons with disabilities.

Strict enforcement:

Special Courts will be designated in each district to handle cases concerning violation of rights of PwDs.

Additional Benefits Persons with benchmark disabilities:

• Additional benefits such as reservation in higher education, government jobs, reservation in allocation of land, poverty alleviation schemes etc. have been provided for persons with benchmark disabilities and those with high support needs.

Programmes/initiatives for Disabled in India:

• Accessible India Campaign : Creation of Accessible Environment for PwDs:
  • A nation-wide flagship campaign for achieving universal accessibility that will enable persons with disabilities to gain access for equal opportunity and live independently and participate fully in all aspects of life in an inclusive society.
  • The campaign targets at enhancing the accessibility of built environment, transport system and Information & communication ecosystem.
• Deen Dayal Disabled Rehabilitation Scheme: Under the scheme financial assistance is provided to NGOs for providing various services to Persons with Disabilities, like special schools, vocational training centres, community based rehabilitation, pre-school and early intervention etc
• Assistance to Disabled Persons for Purchase / fitting of Aids and Appliances (ADIP): The Scheme aims at helping the disabled persons by bringing suitable, durable, scientifically-manufactured, modern, standard aids and appliances within their reach.
• National Fellowship for Students with Disabilities (RGMF)
   
  • The scheme aims to increase opportunities to students with disabilities for pursuing higher education.
  • Under the Scheme, 200 Fellowships per year are granted to students with disability.
• Schemes of the National Trust for the Welfare of Persons with Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Mental Retardation and Multiple Disabilities.

Source: PIB

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